The haka will be the main topic of conversation when New Zealand travel to face England at Twickenham in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series curtain-raiser on Saturday.
This traditional Māori dance of haka was first performed by the team, which used to be called The Natives, back in 1888 and 1889, when the Kiwi rugby team played in Britain and Australia.
While the players would originally only perform the haka when playing overseas, after 1986 they started to do the meaningful dance at home matches, too.
The haka will come out in full force when the All Blacks take on England on Saturday (November 2), after England prop Joe Marler caused huge controversy this week by saying that the tradition should be “binned”. While he later apologised for his comments, they sparked a massive backlash and have given New Zealand extra incentive going into this weekend’s match.
Here is a comprehensive look at how haka came to be, the deep meaning behind it, what the words uttered mean, and its importance to the Māori.
What is the haka?
The haka is a ceremonial Māori dance.
It includes movements like the stomping of the foot, rhythmic body slapping, and, perhaps most famously, the protruding of the tongue alongside a loud chant.
Who created the haka and what does the dance mean?
The haka was created by the Māori people to celebrate various aspects of life.
The story goes that the Māori sun god, Tama-nui-te-ra, and his wife Hine-Raumati, who embodies summer, had a son named Tane-rore. On hot summer days, her little boy would dance for Hine-Raumati, making the air quiver. His rapid and light movements are the inspiration behind haka dances.
From welcoming distinguished guests and acknowledging great occasions or achievements to intimidating rivals and proclaiming strength ahead of a battle, the dance is performed to communicate a variety of emotions and situations.
There are various types of haka. Tūtū Ngārahu, for instance, sees the performers jump from side to side, while Whakatū Waewae involves no jumping. And while Ngeri is performed to psychologically motivate a warrior, Manawa wera haka is often associated with death and funerals.
What are the All Blacks saying during the haka?
Different haka dances include different chants. The one performed and made famous by the All Blacks is the Ka Mate haka, which was composed by Ngati Toa Chieftain Te Rauparaha around 1820. Ka Mate was created in a time of conflict between two tribes, so the chant fits the tale.
The Māori words of the chant are: “Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!Tenei te tangata puhuru huru! Nana nei i tiki mai! Whakawhiti te ra! A upa…ne! ka upa…ne! A upane kaupane whiti te ra! Hi!”
In English, the chant translates to: “I die! I die! I live! I live! I die! I die! I live! I live! This is the hairy man who fetched the Sun and caused it to shine again. One upward step! Another upward step! An upward step, another … the Sun shines!”
In August 2005, before the Tri-Nations Test match against South Africa, the All Blacks performed Kapa O Pango, a new haka all about the All Blacks, for the first time.
Kapa O Pango’s chant translates to: “Let me go back to my first gasp of breath. Let my life force return to the earth.
“It is New Zealand that thunders now. And it is my time! It is my moment! The passion ignites! This defines us as the All Blacks.
“And it is my time! It is my moment! The anticipation explodes! Feel the power. Our dominance rises. Our supremacy emerges. To be placed on high. Silver fern! All Blacks! Silver fern! All Blacks!”
How will England respond to the haka?
Most teams line up in respectful opposition to the haka and watch it silently, but some have chosen to challenge it down the years.
There are limits to how you can do it though, with World Rugby not permitting teams to leave their own half while the haka is being performed.
Challenges have ranged from Australia’s David Campese defiantly practicing kicking instead of watching to charges, stand-offs, Sebastien Chabal’s famous stare and many more.
England’s players produced a V formation during the haka before their incredible World Cup semi-final victory over the All Blacks in Japan in 2019 and all eyes will be on how they respond on Saturday after the controversy stoked up by Marler’s comments this week.
"We'll chat about it later on, we've got a meeting and we'll see what the craic is," said England prop Ellis Genge on Friday.
"We're not going to start climbing on each other's shoulders, but we'll sit there respectfully and watch it.
"I've only faced it once [in 2022]. It's massive in the history of the game. Most people who aren't necessarily too interested in rugby still know what the haka is.
"It's a massive part of rugby in general. I know some people are divided on it but I quite like it. It's a bit of a challenge. I'm a big fan of it.
"Are you not allowed to advance towards it anyway? I don't know the ruling on it. It's a good part of the game and I don't think we should get rid of it.
"I think you should be able to respond but everyone is respectful when they do. I don't think we have seen anyone take the Michael, so to speak.
"I quite like the impact it has, but it's a challenge isn't it? Obviously we want Twickenham on their feet regardless of whether there's a haka or not. I'm sure they will impact it in their own way."
